Both teams were seeking some traction heading into the postseason. The Buckeyes had dropped their last two on the road to second-tier Big Ten teams.

The setback at Michigan State in January ended Ohio State’s charmed first half, when it went 15-0 and was ranked No. 3. Including that loss, the Buckeyes lost five of six, then recovered to win six of their next seven before the two most recent losses, at Penn State and at Indiana.

Heading into the game, each team had won 10 of the last 20 meetings. The last six games were decided by a total of 24 points – and only one by more than four.